Winning smiles... Offaly senior hurling manager Johnny Kelly (left) is congratulated by All-Ireland winning U20 manager Leo O’Connor in Croke Park last Saturday. Kelly hails Offaly players who battled on the bleak daysBy Kevin EganCroke Park in summer is very different to bleak spring days in Blessington or Bekan, but Offaly manager Johnny Kelly wasn’t about to forget where his team has come from, or the players that were there all along the way, when he reflected on last Saturday’s Joe McDonagh Cup final win over Laois. What they’ve done for Offaly today has been outstanding, and not just today,” Kelly said, as he reflected on his team’s 2-23 to 0-26 win in a fixture that continues to throw up memorable contests. He also pointed out that many previous Offaly stars could just as easily have found themselves in a similar situation, if they played under modern structures. “It’s a great competition, the Joe McDonagh, I agree with it, I think there has to be a tiered structure.

Source: Irish Independent June 14, 2024 21:47 UTC